REVIEW: Her Perfect Lies by Lana Newton

Title: Her Perfect Lies
Author: Lana Newton
Publisher: HQ Digital
Publication Date: November 2019
Genre: Mystery / Suspense / Thriller

Description: The twisty psychological suspense that will keep you guessing…

Claire is beautiful.
Claire is famous.
Claire has a handsome husband and a house to die for.

But Claire doesn’t know any of that. Claire isn’t even sure who she is…

When Claire Wright wakes in a hospital, she sees a stranger staring back at her in the mirror. With no memories from before the devastating car accident that left her and her father with life-changing injuries, she must navigate the life of a stranger along with all the mistakes her former self left behind.

As Claire discovers the person she used to be she must also unravel the mystery that surrounds the accident. But the more Claire uncovers, the more she will be forced to face up to the dark secrets from her life before…

My Thoughts: A great premise that quickly fell flat for me, unfortunately. The story throws the reader right into the deep end of the pool with Claire waking up in the hospital with no memory of who she is, her friends, family, or her husband. The story quickly gives the reader the impression that the people around Claire are keeping secrets and she can’t trust anyone.

The plot goes in circles repetitively on the issue of the untrustworthiness of everyone, including Claire, which didn’t drive the story forward and quickly began to frustrate me. With the continuous back and forth, I was tempted many times to give up. There are so many details thrown at the reader about Claire, her accident, her phone calls with a mother she doesn’t remember, an aunt and brother nobody told her about and extreme tension between Claire and her husband.

When the details began to piece together, the big reveal was a big disappointment and the ending of the book left me without any real closure.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I was looking forward to this story and thought it had a great premise, but the story failed to deliver. The plot was choppy, very little character development and I struggled to feel any empathy or connection with any of the characters. Fans of the mystery, suspense and thriller genres will find much better choices than this one.

Thank you to the publisher, HQ Digital, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Romance Library by Olivia Spring

Title: The Romance Library (The Romance Library, #1)
Author: Olivia Spring
Publisher: Hartley Publishing
Publication Date: August 2024
Genre: Chick-Lit
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: Two rivals. One battle. And an epic love story they didn't see coming.

When a virtual stranger unexpectedly leaves Jess one million pounds to create a romance library in gorgeous small seaside town Sunshine Bay, she can’t believe her luck.

Although Jess has no idea how to run a library and is in a massive reading slump, accepting the challenge means she could stop juggling three jobs and swap her crummy London bedsit for a dreamy life by the sea.

But wealthy, arrogant and handsome Henry Cavill lookalike Theo has other ideas.

The bullish property developer’s father has instructed him to buy the same coveted plot of land and failure isn’t an option. Theo’s future depends on it.

After the landowner insists that Jess and Theo stay in the town’s only B&B whilst they prepare a presentation to decide their fate, sparks fly.

But with so much riding on winning the pitch, these rivals can’t get involved.

Which is a problem, because the more time they spend together, the harder they start to fall...

Order this dual POV, steamy, enemies-to-lovers, small-town romcom now and get lost in a love story that will give you all the feels!

Tropes:
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Small-town romance
- Romance book lovers
- Forced proximity
- Work rivals/competitors
- Opposites attract
- Fish out of water
- Rich vs poor
- Forbidden romance

My Thoughts: It should come as no surprise to anyone who has read an Olivia Spring novel that they are in for a wonderful and exciting adventure with The Romance Library. I adored Jessica and Theo and was rooting for them so hard to not let their competition come between them, as well as their emotional baggage and toxic relationships. How exciting would it be to inherit a million dollars to refurbish a historical building and turn it into a library that caters to the romance genre?

I had a lot of empathy for Jessica feeling overwhelmed as I would feel the same way. I also felt a lot of excitement for the project she is beginning to undertake and wanted to be there so I could help get the library going. The author does a brilliant job of building on the mutual hostility and dislike Jessica and Theo feel, slowly peeling back layers in both characters, revealing their vulnerability and eventually attraction for one another.

The supporting characters of the residents of Sunshine Bay add to the charm of the story. The town sounds so inviting and warm and I enjoyed seeing Theo’s initial discomfort at being forced to reside in this town that has none of the conveniences he is accustomed to in London.

The dual POV is expertly played out and I find I enjoy getting multiple points of view more than just one. This is the first book in the series so returning to Sunshine Bay will be something readers can look forward to. This story made me laugh, annoyed me (Theo’s father is a real piece of work) and got me a little misty eyed.

My Final Verdict: I highly recommend this book to fans of the romance genre. This is great feel-good book and, like me, you will want to head straightaway to Sunshine Bay to visit The Romance Library.

Thank you to the author, Olivia Spring, for the invitation to read and review.

REVIEW: The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World by Kim Dinan

Title: The Yellow Envelope: One Gift, Three Rules, and a Life-Changing Journey Around the World
Author: Kim Dinan
Narrator: Laurence Bouvard
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Publication Date: April 2017
Genre: Non-Fiction / Memoir / Travel
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: What Would You Do with a Yellow Envelope?

After Kim and her husband decide to quit their jobs to travel around the world, they're given a yellow envelope containing a check and instructions to give the money away. The only three rules for the envelope: Don't overthink it; share your experiences; don't feel pressured to give it all away.

Through Ecuador, Peru, Nepal, and beyond, Kim and Brian face obstacles, including major challenges to their relationship. As she distributes the gift to people she encounters along the way she learns that money does not have a thing to do with the capacity to give, but that giving—of ourselves—is transformational.

My Thoughts: The Yellow Envelope by new to me author Kim Dinan isn’t just a story about one woman’s adventures traveling around the world and checking off bucket list items. It’s about experiencing all the world has to offer, meeting people from different cultures and lives who aren’t all that different from the rest of us. People that experience the same types of hardships and challenges, successes and joy. It’s also about seeking opportunities to give of oneself, not just monetarily, but also the giving of your time and energy, skills and talent, love and compassion.

When Kim and her husband Brian decide to sell their house and all their worldly possessions, quit their jobs and embark on a trip all over the world, they are presented with a yellow envelope from friends containing money. The task is to give the money away, to whomever and whenever they feel called to do so. Initially, I found it interesting that Kim struggles with who, how and when to do that. Some of her concerns were not wanting to insult someone, with cultural differences and language barriers possibly preventing Kim from understanding the needs of the people she meets. Ultimately, like Kim, I realized that it isn’t meant to be a planned exercise but more a spontaneous gift given from the heart.

I enjoyed tagging along with Kim and Brian on their adventures and experiencing the beauty and excitement vicariously through them. I also admired the courage they had to take this on and the hardships traveling in countries where you don’t speak the language can bring.

My Final Verdict: The concept of paying it forward is not a new one, but I enjoyed this story that highlights one couple’s journey of discovery of the world, of each other and of themselves. The joy that can be found in small ways by connecting with others is immeasurable. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy stories about travel, sacrifice, hardship and humanity.

REVIEW: The Jetsetters by Amanda Eyre Ward

Title: The Jetsetters
Author: Amanda Eyre Ward
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publication Date: March 2020
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: When seventy-year-old Charlotte Perkins submits a sexy essay to the "Become a Jetsetter" contest, she dreams of reuniting her estranged children: Lee, an almost-famous actress; Cord, a handsome Manhattan venture capitalist who can't seem to find a bride; and Regan, a harried mother who took it all wrong when Charlotte bought her a Weight Watchers gift certificate for her birthday.

Charlotte yearns for the years when her children were young and she was a single mother who meant everything to them. When she wins the cruise, the family packs all their baggage—literal and figurative—and spends ten days traveling from sun-drenched Athens through glorious Rome to tapas-laden Barcelona on an over-the-top cruise ship, the Splendido Marveloso.

As lovers new and old join the adventure, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the Perkins family is forced to confront the defining choices in their lives. Can four lost adults find the peace they've been seeking by reconciling their childhood aches and coming back to each other?

In the vein of The Nest and The Vacationers, Ward has created a delicious and intelligent novel about the courage it takes to reveal our true selves, the pleasures and perils of family, and how we navigate the seas of adulthood to cruise—we can only hope—toward joy.

My Thoughts: The Jetsetters by new to me author Amanda Eyre Ward brings us the story of Charlotte Perkins, a seventy-year-old widow who wins a ten-day cruise starting in Athens and finishing in Barcelona. She brings her three adult children with her on the cruise. Now, I don’t know about you, but this family should be the poster child of dysfunctional families and perhaps a cruise isn’t the best idea. The children are all estranged. The oldest, Lee, tried her hand in Hollywood, only to find herself a washed-up actress who has just been dumped by her more famous than her boyfriend. Cord, the only son and middle child is a major mover and shaker in his New York City investment firm and has never settled down. The youngest, Regan, is married to her sister’s ex from high school and strives to be the perfect wife and mother, but all she wants is her freedom.

I was surprised these people even agreed to spend ten days in close proximity. They are all keeping secrets from one another and in such a small, confined space, it’s only a matter of time before the truth comes out.

I liked the pace of the story. With so much to unpack with so many characters, the author does a great job of keeping everyone straight. Each chapter of this book is broken up into the different points of view of the family with interesting tidbits associated with each port of call they arrive. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters and found them to be interesting, but I didn’t really feel a connection with any one character over the other.

The story also has a dual timeline that revisits Charlotte’s youth and her cold mother as well as Charlotte’s husband. The reader is also given more insight into the lives of Lee, Cord and Regan. Their history with one another and the baggage all of these people carry. They probably should have gotten into therapy together instead of going on a cruise.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I am not sure if the cruise had the outcome that Charlotte hoped for. There were some major events that happened near the end of the story that I didn’t feel any closure with. The reader is left to draw many conclusions. Despite the outcome, I enjoyed the story and recommend this story to fans of women’s fiction and stories that are heavy on family drama and relationships.

Thank you to the publisher, Ballantine Books, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: The Good Girlfriend's Guide to Getting Even by Anna Bell

Title: The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even
Author: Anna Bell
Publisher: Zaffre
Publication Date: January 2017
Genre: Chick-Lit / Contemporary Romance
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN

Description: When Lexi's sport-mad boyfriend Will skips her friend's wedding to watch football - after pretending to have food poisoning - it might just be the final whistle for their relationship.

But fed up with just getting mad, Lexi decides to even the score. And, when a couple of lost tickets and an 'accidentally' broken television lead to them spending extra time together, she's delighted to realize that revenge might be the best thing that's happened to their relationship.

And if her clever acts of sabotage prove to be a popular subject for her blog, what harm can that do? It's not as if he'll ever find out . . .

My Thoughts: Rather than a guide about how to get even with one’s boyfriend, this really should be a guide about what you shouldn’t do in a long-term relationship. This book introduces us to Lexi Hunter, who on the surface is very likable and easy to relate to. She has been with her boyfriend, Will Talbot, for seven years. Although he hasn’t put a ring on it, they appear to be committed to one another and have a joint mortgage. The only issue Lexi has with Will and their relationship is his insane obsession with all things sport. Football, rugby, cricket, darts and even the Grand Prix. If there’s a match on anywhere, you can guarantee that Will be present to watch it in person or on television or he will have recorded it to watch it later. Additionally, before any plans can be made, Will has to check the calendar to see if there are any conflicts with said sport watching.

Lexi’s best friend is getting married and mere minutes before Will is supposed to be getting ready, he comes down with food poisoning. Lexi is obviously annoyed but she understands that there is nothing to be done and she leaves Will at home and attends the wedding by herself. While at the wedding, one of her work colleagues sends her a text message containing a photo of Will at the football game!

This is where the story went off the rail for me. I completely understood how hurt and upset Lexi was, I empathized with her decision to give it a little time before confronting Will. Giving him the opportunity to confess and come clean sounded like a reasonable plan. Instead, what transpires is an equally insane plan to exact multiple instances of revenge. Situations that she creates to cause Will to miss watching whatever sporting event is on tap for that given day. Maybe it’s just me (and it probably is), but I thought her actions were worse than Will’s. He shouldn’t have lied, but Lexi should have addressed the situation instead of concocting elaborate revenge schemes. It just felt so petty and immature for someone who has been in this relationship for seven years to behave.

As if the revenge wasn’t bad enough, she starts blogging about it as part of an assignment for her writing class! I just kept waiting for this entire mess to blow up in her face once everything comes out.

The pacing of the story was good, overall. I was engaged and invested in wanting to know what would happen next in Lexi’s plan of getting back at Will. Ironically, I found both Lexi and Will very likable and had high hopes for the success of their relationship, though their communication could use a lot of work. I was also surprised at how well Will takes some of the acts of sabotage. I expected him to go ballistic at missing out on some matches.

As expected, when things come to a head, they do in a spectacularly emotional and horrifying way. I really thought it was the end of the line for these two. This story offers some unexpected surprises that I really liked.

My Final Verdict: Overall, I would have liked this book more if Lexi had taken a less devious approach to her problem. However, I understand that if she had done things differently, other amazing things may not have happened and once I was made aware of what really transpired, I was quite happy.

This book is my first by Anna Bell and I look forward to reading more from her. I recommend this book to readers who love chick-lit and contemporary romances and like to see characters who are not perfect and make huge mistakes in their lives but also take giant leaps to go after what’s important.

Thank you to the publisher, Zaffre, who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Butcher & Blackbird by Brynne Weaver

Title: Butcher and Blackbird (The Ruinous Love Trilogy #1)
Author: Brynne Weaver
Narrator: Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers
Publisher: Blue Nose Publishing
Publication Date: October 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Thriller
Buy The Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Every serial killer needs a friend.

Every game must have a winner.

When a chance encounter sparks an unlikely bond between rival murderers Sloane and Rowan, the two find something elusive—the friendship of a like-minded, pitch-black soul. From small town West Virginia to upscale California, from downtown Boston to rural Texas, the two hunters collide in an annual game of blood and suffering, one that pits them against the most dangerous monsters in the country. But as their friendship develops into something more, the restless ghosts left in their wake are only a few steps behind, ready to claim more than just their newfound love. Can Rowan and Sloane dig themselves out of a game of graves? Or have they finally met their match?

Butcher and Blackbird is the first book in the Ruinous Love Dark Romance trilogy of interconnected stand-alone dark romantic comedies. This dual POV novel ends on a HEA.

My Thoughts: I liked this book but I should have just stuck with the print version instead of the audio. I loved the dual POV from Sloane and Rowan and thought Rowan’s Irish brogue was divine and the humor and snark was brilliantly performed by Joe Arden and Lucy Rivers, but the explicit and graphic scenes were too much for an audio for me. If you still decide to go with the audio format, be warned and don’t listen to it in public without earbuds.

This is the first book in the ruinous love trilogy by new to me author Brynne Weaver. I really liked the premise of serial killers meeting and falling in love over a game of murder. Taking out other serial killers who are way more heinous sounds awesome as well. This book spans several years as Rowan and Sloane get together once a year with a target in mind and a little friendly, if not bloody, competition for who gets the win, or rather the kill.

Though this story does center around Sloane and Rowan, I also liked that the reader gets to meet and start to get to know the characters from the next books, Rowan’s brothers and the women who change their lives. I have a feeling that the events in all three books are occurring simultaneously, which I think I will really like.

The pluses for me in this story are the dual POV and it works really well in the audio. The story itself was very intriguing and easy to follow and unique. The circumstances in which they meet for the first time was fun and I was curious how it would all play out. Can serial killers trust one another not to become the next victim? I liked that they both have a code of honor, of sorts. They target vile and evil killers and things got a little messy and graphic. I also liked the message that even serial killers aren’t all bad and can be loveable.

The only issue I had with this story were the sexually explicit scenes. I thought they went on way too long and didn’t drive the story forward. It takes Sloane and Rowan four years to consummate their desire for one another so I guess it’s been building up for a while, but I found myself impatient for them to get back to the murder and mayhem.

My Final Verdict: Overall, this is a fun story and I really liked the chemistry Sloane and Rowan share. The snark and humor mixed in with their psychotic tendencies made for an enjoyable read. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy really dark romances with comedy thrown in as well as suspenseful thrillers with a little bit of horror.